Schuetz Selected As Energy Northwest’s New CEO

Richland, Wash.-based Energy Northwest’s Executive Board on July 29 named Robert Schuetz as the agency’s CEO, effective Aug. 7.

Schuetz joined Energy Northwest in 2013. He was promoted to plant general manager for the Columbia Generating Station in 2014 and became site vice president in 2018.

Before joining Energy Northwest, he served as a plant evaluation team leader for the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO), concluding his INPO tenure on a reverse-loan assignment to Energy Northwest.

Hettel To Continue as chief nuclear officer

Grover Hettel will remain Energy Northwest’s chief nuclear officer with responsibility for the overall performance of the Northwest region’s only nuclear power plant, Columbia Generating Station, which provides approximately 10% of Washington State’s electricity. 

During the last decade, Energy Northwest’s Columbia Generating Station set numerous generation records and received industry recognition for performance. The agency has earned multiple safety awards, reduced costs and was named as a utility partner for two Department of Energy’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program awards.